Man with Kildare address jailed for getting €20k cannabis parcel in the post

A Co Kildare father-of-four has been jailed for a year after he was caught receiving €20,000 worth of cannabis in a package from Belgium seven years ago.

Musuala Lombe (34) of Derrintown, Carbury, Co Kildare was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of unlawful possession of a controlled drug and possession of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply on April 27, 2009.

Judge Elma Sheahan said it was a serious offence. She suspended the last year of a two-year sentence on condition that Lombe attend a drug addiction support service.

The court heard that the father-of-four, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo but has lived here for 15 years, may be deported as a result of this conviction.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Lombe arrived in Ireland in 2000 under the Red Cross's family reunification programme when he was 18 years old. He was granted a green card to join his father, who had refugee status.